Transitioning from school into the labour market

This project is an early-stage exploration into how we might use the Born in Bradford (BiB) data to understand the transitions of young people from school into further education, training, or work. We are particularly interested in how family background, early life experiences, and academic achievement influence the choices young people make after leaving school. We are also keen to explore the barriers faced by young people from ethnic minority backgrounds, including how childhood experiences and the interaction between race and socioeconomic status shape their transition into the labour market. This could help us better understand why some ethnic minority groups experience disadvantages in employment outcomes despite relatively high levels of academic success.

The BiB cohort offers a unique and valuable opportunity for this kind of work. Its diverse sample and rich longitudinal data make it especially well placed to investigate questions about inequality, opportunity, and outcomes for young people who are often under-represented in national surveys.

At this stage, the project will focus on exploring the BiB dataset to assess what information is currently available and identify where additional linkage or development might be useful. Our goal is to lay the groundwork for a future programme of research in potential collaboration with the BiB team.